The Boston University men’s rowing program advanced three crews to their top semifinals during the opening day of the 2026 IRA National Championship Regatta on May 29 at Lake Natoma in Gold River, California.
The Varsity 8 and Third Varsity 8 each finished third in their respective heats, securing spots in the AB semifinals. The Varsity 4 reached the ABC semifinals after placing third and will compete in the B final. The Second Varsity 8 finished fourth in its heat and will move to the CD semifinals.
Calm waters and unseasonably cool temperatures marked the morning session. The sun emerged for afternoon races, including the Varsity 4’s semifinal. In their heat, BU’s Varsity 8 crew—coxed by Emily Slawin and stroked by Alessandro Gardino—finished with a time of 5:48.39 behind Harvard and Northeastern but ahead of Wisconsin, advancing to Saturday’s AB semifinal.
BU’s Second Varsity 8, coxed by Luke Stroh and stroked by Griffith Coupland, built a significant lead over Georgetown and La Salle but ultimately placed fourth with a time of 5:52.14. In Third Varsity 8 action, coxed by Ben Brinckerhoff and stroked by Liam Feeney, BU finished third with a time of 5:56.89 after a close contest with Syracuse.
The Terrier Varsity 4 crew—coxed by Hannah Noguchi and stroked by Mason Laundry—placed ninth out of twenty-nine teams during morning trials (6:20.936), earning an ABC semifinal berth where they later took third place (6:32.31). Saturday’s schedule includes all four boats competing again across various semifinal rounds.
